Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, in Yerevan today, hosted a delegation headed by Pan-Armenian Games International Committee President Ishkhan Zakaryan.

“The next round of the games, christened unity through sport, will take place in Artsakh for the first time. Athletes from 35 cities outside Armenia will participate in seventeen different events, seven of which will be held in Artsakh. We expect to see more than 4,000 athletes from Armenia, Artsakh, and the rest of the world,” Zakaryan told President Sarkissian.

Sarkissian said holding some of the events in Artsakh is a great way to open that country up to the outside world, and that the Pan-Armenian Games is great practice so that Armenia can hold sporting events on an international level in the future.

The 7th Pan-Armenian Games will be held in August of this year. The opening ceremony will be held in Artsakh on August 6 for the first time.